Technology Licensing Opportunity: Flame-Retardant Electrolytes for Safer Lithium-Ion Batteries
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of Energy (DOE), through Battelle Energy Alliance (INL), is offering a Technology Licensing Opportunity for Flame-Retardant Electrolytes designed to enhance the safety and reliability of lithium-ion batteries. This innovation addresses the flammability and instability issues of current electrolytes. Responses are due by September 30, 2026.
Technology Overview
This opportunity presents a novel class of stabilized phosphoranimines, developed as air- and water-stable room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). These materials exhibit flame-retardant properties and thermal stability beyond 150 °C, overcoming limitations of traditional phosphoranimines. They can solubilize lithium salts and maintain stability in electrochemical environments, making them ideal for next-generation lithium-ion battery electrolytes.
Problem Addressed
Current lithium-ion battery electrolytes, based on organic carbonates, are flammable, volatile, and thermally unstable, limiting performance and safety in demanding applications. Existing phosphoranimine chemistry has been hindered by unstable intermediates, preventing commercial application. Industry requires electrolytes that combine flame retardancy, high thermal stability, and tunable performance without compromising compatibility with existing battery chemistries.
Solution & Advantages
The invention utilizes a new synthetic route to N-organophosphoranimines, enabling novel structural features, RTIL formation with low viscosity, and unprecedented air- and water-stability. Key advantages include:
- Flame Retardancy: Inherently non-flammable, enhancing safety.
- Thermal & Chemical Robustness: Stable at high temperatures and resistant to degradation.
- Customizable Chemistry: Broad substituent flexibility for tailoring properties.
- Electrolyte Compatibility: Capable of dissolving lithium salts and operating in relevant electrochemical environments.
- Novel IP Positioning: Unique nitrogen-bound imidazolium groups provide strong differentiation.
Market Applications
Potential applications span Energy Storage (consumer, grid, defense), Extreme Environments (aerospace, military, industrial), Chemical Processing (stable solvents), and Industrial Lubricants (low-volatility, flame-retardant liquids).
Licensing Opportunity
This is a licensing opportunity for intellectual property. INL's Technology Deployment department focuses solely on licensing and collaborating with industry partners to commercialize innovations. It does not engage in purchasing, procurement, or hiring external services for technology development.
Timeline & Contact
- Response Due: September 30, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT
- Published: June 17, 2026, 6:12 PM EDT
- Contact: Javier Martinez (javier.martinez@inl.gov)